INTRODUCTION
Considered by many to be one of humanity’s most distinctive qualities, intelligence is a complicated and multidimensional phenomena that has long captivated academics, scientists, philosophers, and psychologists. Fundamentally, intelligence is a wide range of cognitive competencies that allow people to successfully learn, comprehend, reason, plan, solve problems, and adapt to their surroundings.
Many viewpoints and hypotheses, each providing a distinctive window into the nature and manifestations of intelligence, are characteristic to the study of intelligence. A well-known framework is the psychometric method, which views intelligence as a quantifiable quality that can be evaluated via standardized exams such as intelligence quotient (IQ) tests. Common skills assessed by these exams include verbal comprehension, pattern recognition, problem solving, and logical reasoning.
It should be noted that intelligence includes social and emotional aspects in addition to cognitive ones. For example, emotional intelligence is the capacity to recognize, regulate, and effectively navigate both one’s own emotions and those of others.
In the end, intelligence is still a dynamic and changing idea that is fashioned by continuous study and discussion. Investigating intelligence’s many facets, acknowledging its significant consequences for learning, growth, and personal success in a variety of contexts, and comprehending its cultural and contextual flexibility are all necessary to comprehend intelligence.
Understanding intelligence requires understanding that it is the mental capacity or mental energy that a person possesses in a given scenario at a given time.
In order to successfully adapt to and deal with new challenges and issues in life, he uses this mental capacity to manipulate things, events, or objects that are present in his environment, both theoretically and practically.
Ancient Doctrines of Intelligence
Psychologists differ on the nature of psychic abilities. The ancient doctrines of mental powers are of three types: Monarchism, Feudalism, Anarchism.
MONARCHISM
By Monarchy what we usually mean is that the sovereign of a kingdom is the King who governs the kingdom, just as by Monarchy of the intellect the intellect is the single mental faculty that governs mental activity or all human activities.
FEUDALISM
What is usually meant by feudalism is the number of feudal lords or bureaucrats in a state who rule the entire state. Similarly, according to feudalism of intellect, intellect is a combination of mental forces which govern all human activities.
ANARCHISM
According to the anarchist concept, intelligence is neither a single force nor a collection of several specialized forces. In the mind there are innumerable subtle mental forces, the sum total of which is intelligence which governs all human activities. Psychic abilities are the manifestation of how these elements work in particular.
DIFFERENT IDEAS
From the biological point of view, i.e., the ability to adjust to new problems or changing situations in life, intelligence is the idea that psychologists Stern, Paterson, Edwards.
From the educational point of view, i.e. the use of learning ability or experience, the ideologues of this concept of intelligence are Buckingham, Colvin Dearborn.
In terms of mental ability, intelligence is comprehensible, its totality, ability, concentration, abstract thinking, etc. The ideologues of this concept are Binet, Terman, Cattel.
From the test-based perspective, intelligence is the ability to respond in an ideal way to a variety of factors. The theorists of this concept are Ballerd, Pieron, Thorndike.
DESCRIPTION OF INTELLIGENCE
- Intelligence-Based Skills : Basic cognitive skills like problem-solving, logic, critical thinking, and deciding are all part of intelligence. These skills let people evaluate data, forecast future events, and create plans of action to get desired results.
- Acquiring Knowledge and Retention : The ability to pick up new information, abilities, and knowledge as well as the ability to remember and recollect it when necessary are all components of intelligence. Because memory retains information from the past and can be utilized to guide judgments and actions in the future, it is essential to intelligence.
- Flexibility : Those that possess intelligence show versatility as well as resilience in dealing with novel circumstances, obstacles, and surroundings. This involves having the flexibility to modify goals, tactics, and actions in response to shifting conditions.
- Innovativeness : The capacity to produce original concepts, theories, and viewpoints is a component of creativity, which is a subset of intelligence. People who possess creativity are able to think beyond the box and address challenges in novel ways.
- Abstract Thinking : The ability to think about complicated ideas, comprehend theoretical ideas, and grasp connections among many aspects without only depending on tangible, observable phenomena is referred to as abstract thinking, and it is a component of intelligence.
- Social Skills : Effective interpersonal skills including cooperation, empathy, leadership, and conflict resolution are all part of intelligence. These abilities help people form connections, succeed in social situations, and work cooperatively with others to achieve common objectives.
- Planning and Anticipation of Problems : Astute people are able to foresee possible issues and obstacles and are skilled at creating and carrying out well-thought-out strategic plans to bring about the desired results.
- Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation : Being intelligent entails being self-conscious, which is being aware of one’s own motivations, values, and strengths and shortcomings. The capacity for impulse control, stress management, and goal-oriented motivation are all included in the concept of self-regulation.
Also other features are: EMERGENCE OF ORIGINAL, EMOTIONAL RESISTANCE, COMPLEXITY.
ROLE OF HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT
In psychology and allied disciplines, the question of how much intelligence is shaped by environment (nurture) vs. heredity (nature) has long been a source of study and dispute. Both elements are important for the growth and manifestation of intellect.
Individual differences in intellect are largely influenced by hereditary factors, according to research on heredity (nature). Research on adopted children, siblings, and twins has demonstrated a correlation between genetic similarity and cognitive levels within the family.
- The heritability estimates indicate that a significant proportion of the variation in intelligence within a population can be attributed to hereditary causes. It’s crucial to remember that heritability estimates show how much of an intelligence is purely genetically determined, not how much genetic variation accounts for individual variances within a population at a given moment.
- The development of cognitive abilities and intelligence is greatly influenced by environmental factors, including prenatal care, nutrition, exposure to pollutants, and early childhood events (such as parenting style and educational chances). Cognitive ability and academic accomplishment can be strongly influenced by educational experiences, learning resources, and the quality of education.
Interaction Between Heredity and Environment
Genetic predispositions and environmental effects have a complex relationship. Environments can change how genetic potential is expressed, and genetic characteristics may affect how people react to their surroundings.
For instance, in the absence of engaging educational opportunities, a youngster with a genetic propensity for high intelligence might not reach their full potential.
